Lightning Defeated in Knights Joust

The Leinster Lightning fell to a 22-run defeat against the Northern Knights in the IP20 Festival at Pembroke on Saturday.

A record IP20 9^th wicket partnership of 51 runs in 25 balls between Barry McCarthy (24*) and Josh Little (27*) added a little gloss to the score as two Pembroke bowlers had a little fun, smashing five boundaries and three sixes between them.

McCarthy and Little came together with the Lightning 101/8 chasing 175 after Ben White (3-27) had ripped through the middle order. Not before Tim Tector showed his undoubted talent with 27 off 18 deliveries though.

Kevin O’Brien fell early and Simi Singh (10) chopped a Mark Adair delivery onto his stumps to leave the Lightning 41/2. The required run rate was already rising steeply but the real damage was done by Ross Adair in the 10^th over.

In dismissing George Dockrell and Lorcan Tucker cheaply, Andrew Balbirnie (42) was left playing a lone hand before being stumped to leave the home side six down. Balbirnie played some glorious shots, particularly his sweeping and a late dab to third man.

The target of 175 was too much on the day for the Lightning, despite the efforts of McCarthy and Little at the end.

Earlier Little had been excellent once again with the ball, taking 3-26. Aside from Little (3-26) however, the Lightning couldn’t match the relentless intensity of Friday’s victory over the Munster Reds.

The Knights top order of Luke Georgeson (31), James McCollum (25) and Ruhan Pretorius (31) took full advantage to build early momentum that never really slowed. Ross Adair bludgeoning 18 off the last over pushed the Knights total to 174/7 at halfway and beyond the reach of the Lightning on the day.

The Leinster Lightning conclude their IP20 Festival at Pembroke CC tomorrow (Sunday) against the North West Warriors at 11am.  

Interprovincial 20-Over Trophy

Pembroke CC, Dublin

Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights, Saturday June 19^th      

Northern Knights 174/7 20 Overs (L Georgeson 31, R Pretorius 31; J Little 3-26, D O’Halloran 2-40)

Leinster Lightning 152/8 20 Overs (A Balbirnie 42, J Little 27*, T Tector 27, B McCarthy 24*; B White 3-27)Northern Knights won by 22-runs